Summary

• The Coffin Texts, dating from around 2134-2040 BCE, were a collection of ancient Egyptian spells, rituals, hymns, and maps that guided safely navigating the afterlife.
• It reflected a significant religious shift between Egypt’s Old Kingdom and the First Intermediate Period, they democratized afterlife access beyond royalty, making paradise achievable for common people.
• The coffin texts were influenced by Pyramid Texts and preceding the Egyptian Book of the Dead, plus it emphasized Osiris as the central figure guiding souls through the perilous underworld journey.

The Coffin Texts are divine words that hold the power to shift the Destiny of every soul who wishes to reach the final edge of the afterlife and enter the field of Reed. The Coffin Texts hold historical significance as a significant source of ancient Egyptian literature, as they reflect the cultural and religious changes between the Old Kingdom (2613-2181 BCE) and the First Intermediate Period in Egypt, shedding light on the evolution of the people’s religious beliefs.

The coffin texts had a deep impact on even the common life, as it was preserved as a magical force to bring everyday desires to life. It was one of the main pillars of ancient Egyptian religion and the guidebook of funerary spells that would provide a path to prosperity in the hereafter. They acted as maps across the culture that provided meaning and the means for the deceased to navigate and travel safely across the dangerous and mysterious pathways to the Ancient Egyptian afterlife.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

This information does not seek to degrade or insult any religion. All the information is based on historical evidence, any similarities that you may find with your own faith or religion are from the figment of your imagination.

Astonishing Facts About the Mysterious Coffin Texts

The magnificent Coffin Texts date all the way to around 2134-2040 BCE, which is known to consist of 1,185 religious spells and writings that have been seen inscribed on Middle Kingdom coffins. They were also found written on tomb walls, papyri, canopic chests, stelae, and ancient Egyptian mummy masks. Their main purpose was to assist the deceased in navigating across the afterlife.

Among these marvelous texts is the Book of Two Ways, which is known to be the earliest example of cosmography in ancient Egypt. It provides maps across the many roads of the afterlife and guidance on how to safely reach the gates of paradise, which were painted on coffin floors. These coffin texts are the earliest known maps in any known culture in history, which was at the time known as the Book of Two Ways and served as a highly popular illustrated guide to the afterlife, which worked in sequence with the texts written inside the coffin.

These phenomenal coffin texts were entirely influenced by earlier Pyramid Texts (2400-2300 BCE) and later inspired by the legendary Egyptian Book of the Dead (1550-1070 BCE). They were primarily composed during the First Intermediate Period of Egypt (2181-2040 BCE), although their origins can be traced back to the end of the Old Kingdom and extended into the early Middle Kingdom (2040-1782 BCE). During the New Kingdom (1570-1069 BCE), they were replaced by the Book of the Dead, which was sometimes placed among a person’s burial possessions.

The Magnificent Origin of the Coffin Texts

The Coffin Texts were made to provide a new understanding of the afterlife and the place of the common people in it, which were comprised of rituals, hymns, prayers, and magic spells, evolved from the earlier Pyramid Texts found in the pyramids of the Old Kingdom. While the Pyramid Texts were exclusively for the king and his royal family, the Coffin Texts were accessible to all people from all walks of life, like the nobility, high-ranking officials, and ordinary people who could afford to copy them. This democratized access to the afterlife through several different spells.

The Old Kingdom of Egypt gained the title the ‘Age of the Pyramid Builders,’ which was characterized by the construction of magnificent pyramids of Giza by kings like Sneferu, Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure. Maintaining these monuments was costly, and the rulers had to provide for priests who conducted rituals and owned significant land, exempt from taxes. Eventually, the decentralization of government power led to the collapse of the Old Kingdom, marking the First Intermediate Period.

During this time, the central government’s authority waned as regional nomarchs gained more power. This shift allowed for greater freedom in ancient Egyptian architecture, ancient Egyptian art, crafts, and overall creativity, resulting in a democratization of goods and services. Luxury items that were once exclusive to the king became accessible to nobility, officials, bureaucrats, and common people who could afford them, of course. Mass production of art and inscriptions led to the creation of the Coffin Texts, which allowed more common individuals can enjoy the benefits of the afterlife, marking a significant departure from the Old Kingdom’s rigid centralized control that was based on socioeconomical and royal hierarchy.

Discover the One-of-a-kind Content Of the Coffin Texts

The great Coffin Texts are highly different from the Pyramid Texts, which were mainly focused on the celestial heavens, while the coffin texts are focused on the subterranean aspects of the afterlife, which is ruled by Osiris, the ruler of the afterlife in the Duat. In Egyptian Mythology, this realm is known as being filled with traps, dangers, and snares, which the deceased must have entirely navigated. The spells found in the Coffin Texts serve to protect the deceased and prevent a “second death.”

The coffin texts, unlike the pyramid texts, mentioned that all individuals will be totally judged by Osiris and his 44 judges in his council based on their actions in life. This judgment often involves the use of a balance that comes in the shape of a scale that holds the heart and feather of Maat against each other, which is a pivotal moment later seen in the Book of the Dead.

The texts also address some common fears, such as the prospect of manual labor in the afterlife, and provide spells to help the deceased avoid such terrible and harmful tasks. The Coffin Texts combine rituals for expressions of hope for a blessed afterlife, protection, and descriptions of the transmigrations and transformations of the ba and akh. They also provide insights into the landscape and inhabitants of the land of the dead, including the paths of Rostau, the Sekhet Hotep (Field of offerings or peace), and the adobe of Osiris.

The Legendary Myth of Osiris

The democratization of the afterlife in ancient Egypt was largely influenced by the popularity of the Osiris myth who was the first-born of the gods who ruled Egypt with his sister-wife Isis until he was murdered by his jealous brother Set. Isis managed to bring Osiris back to life, but he ruled in the underworld as the Lord and Judge of the Dead. During the First Intermediate Period, the cult of Osiris gained immense popularity as he was viewed as the primary figure among the deceased, offering eternal life to believers.

The legendary myth of his resurrection involved the involvement of Isis and her sister Nephthys, who chanted magical incantations. This part of the myth was re-enacted during Osiris festivals and funerals through The Lamentations of Isis and Nephthys, a call-and-response performance by two women portraying the deities to summon Osiris. Attending this festival allowed participants to spiritually partake in Osiris’s rebirth.

With time, the cult of Osiris evolved into the cult of Isis during the New Kingdom, which emphasizes her role in Osiris’s resurrection. The Egyptian Book of the Dead eventually replaced the Coffin Texts as the guide to the afterlife. While spells were still inscribed on tombs and coffins, the Egyptian Book of the Dead became the primary means to direct the soul to paradise throughout Egypt’s history.

Learn About the Magnificent Spells of The Coffin Texts

The Coffin Texts mentioned several Egyptian gods and goddesses, which included Amun-Ra, Shu, Tefnut, and Thoth, but consistently mentioned the Osiris Myth. In the texts, there is a Spell numbered 74 and titled “A Spell for the Revival of Osiris,” which retells the part of the Osiris story where Isis and her sister Nephthys bring Osiris back to life with the help of Heka. These marvelous spells spoke about the rise of Osiris but also applied equally to the souls of the deceased. Just as the future ruler of the underworld, Osiris, was resurrected through the sisters’ incantations, so too would the soul awaken after death, hopefully achieving justification and gaining entry into paradise.

Spell 330 states that the soul’s connection to Osiris was integral, as Osiris played a role in the soul’s earthly quest, infusing it with life and being present in various aspects of daily life. Empowered by Osiris, the soul embarked on its journey through the afterlife. To aid this journey, the Book of Two Ways provided maps, canals, rivers, and guidance to navigate the perilous path, avoiding hazards like the Lake of Fire. The Coffin Texts provided the soul with the means to safely reach its destination, emphasizing that useful knowledge of powerful spells and possession of the map allowed the deceased to overcome underworld dangers and attain eternal life.

Spell 404 states that the soul was meant to lead a very virtuous life, free of sin, and be deemed justified by Osiris. The text assumes the soul’s worthiness and its ability to recognize both friendly entities and potential threats along the journey. The spell describes the soul encountering sisterly companions at a doorway who must be recognized; failure to do so could result in punishments, indicating the importance of being justified and prepared to navigate the afterlife’s challenges.

The Meaningful Writing and Placement of the Coffin Texts

With the democratization of the concept of the afterlife in ancient Egypt, the materials used for funerary purposes expanded, During the Old Kingdom, large Egyptian sarcophagi were expected as they had enough space to paint on the texts, but in the First Intermediate Period, simpler Egyptian coffins gained popularity, varying in complexity based on the deceased’s wealth and status. Scribes painted these coffins with texts and illustrations depicting the person’s life on Earth.

The Pyramid Texts served to remind the deceased king of his identity and achievements, and also the Coffin Texts adhered to this system. When the soul awoke in the tomb, it could recognize itself through these images and accompanying texts, which also offered it divine protection and maps that would help it cross all the dangers of the afterlife.

These coffins from different periods were crafted from materials like cartonnage, wood, stone, pottery, silver, and ancient Egyptian gold, plus all were written on by skilled craftsmen. The coffin’s surface was covered with meaningful texts that varied from one person to another, which included illustrations of the person’s life, offerings, descriptions of needed objects in the afterlife, and instructions for the soul’s journey.

Ancient Egyptian colors also played a role. Black ink was used for writing, with red ink was used for describing demonic forces. It described passing through the mysterious region of Rosetau, where Osiris’ body lay surrounded by walls of flame. If deemed worthy, the deceased could attain a new life in paradise, possibly through redemption by passing through the fire around Osiris’ body.